Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia on Monday met Commonwealth Games champion Mirabai Chanu in New Delhi, congratulating the ace weightlifter on her record-extending third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal and reaffirming the Centre’s commitment to strengthening the sporting ecosystem in the Northeast.
The Union Minister praised Chanu’s determination, discipline and perseverance, describing her achievement as an inspiration for young athletes across the country, particularly in the North Eastern Region.
During the interaction, Chanu shared her journey of resilience and the challenges she overcame on her path to becoming one of India’s most accomplished weightlifters. The discussions also covered various aspects of elite sports, including training methods, nutrition, recovery cycles, and the importance of adequate rest and sleep in achieving peak performance.
Scindia also acknowledged the contribution of Chanu’s coach, trainer and physiotherapist, noting that sustained international success is built on scientific training, expert guidance and a strong support system.
Highlighting the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region’s vision for nurturing sporting talent, the Minister spoke about the development of a comprehensive sports ecosystem through the High Level Task Force (HLTF). Under the Ministry’s ‘One State, One Sport’ initiative, each Northeastern state is being encouraged to develop excellence in sports where it has a natural competitive advantage, including weightlifting, archery and football.
Scindia said the initiative goes beyond creating sports infrastructure and focuses on building a world-class ecosystem through quality coaching, sports science, nutrition, recovery and athlete support. He said providing aspiring athletes with access to high-quality training and facilities within the region would inspire more young sportspersons to pursue excellence and help the Northeast produce many more champions like Chanu.
Vijay Sharma, Chanu’s trainer, also highlighted the sporting potential of the Northeast and said the proposed initiatives would help identify and nurture grassroots talent across the region.
The meeting reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening athlete development, coaching excellence and sports infrastructure in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of unlocking the immense sporting potential of the North Eastern Region.
